PAF can counter Indiaâ€™s new war doctrine, says air chief

JACOBABAD: Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman has said that the Pakistan Air Force can effectively counter Indiaâ€™s new war doctrine.

Talking to the media here at the Shahbaz Air Base, the air chief said PAF has modified its plan within the existing infrastructure in view of the new war doctrine of India. The Indian Air Force, he said, has been given a very crucial and critical role in Indiaâ€™s â€˜Cold Startâ€™ doctrine.

Suleman told the media that the Shahbaz Air Base was totally in the control of the Pakistan Air Force and existing hardware procured and being acquired by the PAF was sufficient to fulfill its requirements. â€œWe are in the process of consolidating the hardware procured so far,â€ the air chief said.

To a question about the capability of US F-16 Block 52 aircraft, he rejected the impression that the aircraft could not target or intercept US aircraft if they violated the countryâ€™s airspace. â€œThere is nothing which can prevent us from targeting or intercepting US fighter planes,â€ he said. Suleman maintained that PAF could intercept or target US planes, if required, but at the same time he said they did not wish for such a situation to arise.